Old Testament accounts of the Israelites can be disheartening, as they often portray a people mired in apostasy and disobedience. There are bright spots, however, in the panorama of the Lord's dealings with His ancient covenant people.

One of these occurs in chapters 35 and 36 of Exodus. At this point, Moses has received on Mount Sinai the Ten Commandments and the other elements of the law, including the highly detailed and exacting specifications for construction of the tabernacle, the structure that would be the center of worship for the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings, a portable temple, as it were.

We read in Exodus 35:4-10 of Moses' call to the people to give of their substance, talents and energy for the creation of the Lord's sanctuary: "Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord;" he tells them, "whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord. ... And every wise hearted [or skilled] among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded."

It is thrilling to read of the people's response: "And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments" (Exodus 35:21).

In Chapter 36, we further read that people's liberality was such that they produced an overabundance of material for the tabernacle. Those receiving the offerings said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make" (verse 5). It was necessary, in fact, for Moses to issue a proclamation restraining the people from continuing their offerings (see verses 6-7).

The incident is reminiscent of accounts in latter-day Church history pertaining to the construction of temples. As was the case anciently with the tabernacle in the wilderness, the precise design of the Kirtland Temple in Ohio was given by revelation. The Prophet Joseph Smith told his associates, "I have a plan of the house of the Lord, given by himself" (quoted in Lucy Mack Smith, History of the Prophet Joseph [1902], 204) and President Brigham Young reported that Joseph "received a pattern also, as did Moses for the tabernacle, and Solomon for his temple; for without a pattern he could not know what was wanting, having never seen one and not having experienced its use" (Deseret News, April 16, 1853, 42).

With the image of the temple presented to them, the people, though beset with hardship, came forth and brought it to reality. Exemplifying their dedication is the sacrifice of John Tanner, who loaned money to help buy the temple site, then sold his New York farm to give $3,000 for construction supplies and eventually gave up almost all his possessions for the cause (Milton V. Backman Jr., The Heavens Resound, pp. 151-53, cited in Church History in the Fulness of Times, Church Educational System student manual, p. 163).

In the dedicatory prayer for the temple, the prophet declared, "For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people" (Doctrine and Covenants 109:5).

Later, in Nauvoo, Ill., the Latter-day Saints would tithe their labor, devoting one day in 10 to construction of the House of the Lord in that city by the Mississippi (see Church History in the Fulness of Times, p. 242). Again, they dedicated their time, labor and skill to constructing the temple, even while enduring the shadow of mob oppression.

What motivates a people to sacrifice so generously? The answer is implicit in one of the Exodus verses cited above regarding the Israelites building the tabernacle: "They came every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering" (Exodus 35:21). The dedication comes from a heartfelt conviction of the truthfulness of the work of God and the urgency to build His Kingdom, in latter days as in times of old.

We in the Church today are blessed to live under more prosperous circumstances. A temple in our day can be constructed in the Church without a great burden upon any individual member of the Church. Yet we are engaged in bringing forth the Kingdom of God as surely as in any gospel dispensation in history. Through their faithful obedience to the law of tithing, for example, Latter-day Saints participate in the construction of each new temple that is built today.

Speaking to a Jan. 16, 1853, congregation President Brigham Young declared, "When the Lord gives His Spirit to a person, or to a people, they can then hear, believe and be instructed. ... If every person who has embraced the gospel would love it as he loves his life, would not society wear a different aspect from that of the present? ... If every heart were set upon doing right, we then should have Zion here. ... I live and walk in Zion every day, and so do thousands of others in this Church and Kingdom; they carry Zion with them, they have one of their own, and it is increasing, growing, and spreading continually" (Journal of Discourses, 1:5-6).

As we approach the end of the calendar year, Church members will again have the opportunity to meet with a bishop or branch president and declare their tithing faithfulness. Among all the blessings that tithing brings, not the least is the privilege of participating in the growth of the kingdom of God and the preparation for the coming of the Son of God in glory.

Like the artisans and laborers among the children of Israel working to complete the Lord's sanctuary, we each have our own skills, talents, aptitudes and means to offer. Among our offerings is our dedication to follow a course of righteousness and establish the cause of Zion.

May we work tirelessly, faithfully and joyfully in that cause.